Air Operations, Pacific

While 12 20th Provisional Pursuit Squadron P-40s are refueling at Bali/den Pasar Airdrome, the base is attacked by an estimated 20 Japanese aircraft. 7 P-40s get airborne are able to down 4 A6M 'Zeros' at a cost of 4 P-40s and 1 pilot. 4 other P-40s are destroyed on the ground by the Japanese twin-engine bombers. Later in the day, the surviving 4 P-40s reach Java/Blimbing Airdrome, where they are incorporated into the 17th Provisional Pursuit Squadron.

Air Operations, Europe

The RAF drops 1.4 million American leaflets describing gigantic US arms programs over 8 French cities.

Barents Sea

The Russian submarine SHCH-421 sinks the German steamer Konsul Schulte (2975t) off Honningsvag, Norway.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-136 sinks the British corvette Arbutus, escorting Convoy ON-63, 295 miles west of Erris Head, Ireland with the loss of 43 crew members.
• U-109 sinks the Canadian tanker Montrolite (11,309t) northeast of Bermuda with the loss of 28 crewmen. 20 survivors are picked up by the British steamer Winkleigh.
• U-103 sinks the American tanker China Arrow (8403t) off Winter Quarter Shoals. All 37 crew members are picked up by the American coast guard cutter Nike.
• The British steamer Corland (3431t) is sunk by German bombing off Grimsby. The entire crew of 27 are rescued.

Diplomatic Relations

The US declares war on Thailand.

First US C-47 cargo plane lost in combat, strafed by Zeros on Bathurst Island, Australia.

First US C-47 Lost in Combat

Eastern Front

As heavy attacks pound Velizh and Demidov, the 9th Army launches a concerted counterattack, units from Olenino and Rzhev attacking and forcing apart the encircled 29th and 39th Armies. The bulk of the 29th Army is lost during the fighting, only 5,000 men escaping to the tenuous safety of the 39th Army. The Germans also attack the 39th Army, preventing it from lending any support to the hard pressed 29th.

Soviet forces outside the pocket launch a new attack upon Rzhev but can not break through the firmly established German positions. There are also fierce battles around Vyazma.

Indian Ocean

The Dutch steamer Tidore (872t) is sunk by Japanese bombing south of Sumbawa, Indonesia.

North Africa

In order to avoid being surrounded, the British holding El Mechili, southwest of Derna, are forced to retire. On the coast the Italians and Germans take Tmimi, only a short distance from Gazala.

Philippines

The defenders of Bataan succeed in driving the Japanese who landed at Point Quinauan, back to the beaches. There is limited action along the rest of the front.

US destroyers Cassin and Downes under salvage at Pearl Harbor, 5 February, 1942.

US Destroyers Being Salvaged at Pearl Harbor

Singapore

A convoy lands the remainder of the British 18th Div and further Indian reinforcements on the island. Before it can arrive, the slowest ship in the convoy, the Empress of Asia (16,400t), is sunk by Japanese aircraft with considerable loss of life. Violent air raids take place on the port warehouses.

The Empress of Asia beached and burning, 5 February 1942. The convoy comprised four vessels bringing the remainder of the British 18th Division to Singapore, and was the last convoy to reach the island before it fell.

The Empress of Asia Beached and Burning

Soviet Union, Home Front

In a broadcast Pres Kalinin predicts that the hour is near when all the occupied Russian Republics will return to the Soviet Union.